***Today was a very important day for the project for so many different reasons. Blessed with beautiful weather, we went out to share a message of hope, and the possibility of positive change. Personally, this weekend is of significant importance, because Monday will mark the 2 year anniversary of my abstinence from alcohol. Since I made that decision, my life has changed for the better, and I want our friends to realize that it’s never too late to change. To further push the narrative, I wrote a letter to our friends expressing our genuine concern for their well being and self improvement. To say the least, the message was well received.
***In addition to our message, we were on a mission to get people signed up for the second stage of our MLKHP FAMILY & FRIENDS PROGRAM. It too turned out to be successful venture, as we resigned almost 50 people to receive their membership cards. We are very excited about entering a phase of creating personal files for our friends, in an effort to help keep track of their particular needs. Doing so will help us to better help them to help themselves. As an organization, we have grown and we are trying to do do in a responsible manner. We have recently partnered with a wonderful company called Bombas Socks! They will be providing us with enough socks on an annual basis, that we will be able to initiate a very ambitious sock exchange program. The main goal of which us to continue to pay it forward. (Details to come in the very near future.) *** With regards to today, as previously stated, we went out to share a message of hope through self reflection and positive change. The conversations were amazing. However, we were touched by a young boy, who was as bright as he was polite! It was hard to know that he was in his situation, and it was hard to see his parents struggling. However, through it all, he was genuinely happy. He really took a liking to my wife, as she spent time with him talking with him, and eventually surprising him with pair of “funky fresh” sunglasses. Not my words by the way. Anyway, I personally had 4 conversations with individuals who were contemplating going home to their families, and for some to their children. It was hard to hear some of the stories without being sad and somewhat disappointed, however the fact that going back to family was an option, told me that they were getting tired of their present situations. You might be surprised at how many people can go home or stay with family, provided they get clean and sober. That’s definitely easier said than done, believe I know from personal experience. I also know that it’s doable, also from personal experience. I wish them all the best, and we will be here to do whatever we can to assist them in their efforts to make the necessary moves to get back to a support system that is firmly rooted in the strength that a living family can offer. ❤️🖤💚💛 ***All in all, today was a resounding success, and we look forward to further growing the project, and even more so, the many programs and partnerships we have formed! With that said, please tell the ones you love that you love them before you can’t!! Always remember to be kind to others! Peace and May God continue to Bless Us All!! ✌🏾🙏🏾 P.S. To date the MLK Humanity Project has served 11,533 sack lunches, homemade meals, hot and cold cereal breakfasts, and family packages throughout the Vallejo area. It is our profound commitment to continue to help those who want to help themselves and those who unfortunately no longer can! We also want to thank all of our donors, partners, team members, and volunteers. We are a community organization, and we rely on the community to thrive. We always say,” LIKING US IS LOVELY, BUT SHARING IS CARING, SO PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!!” 🤗🤞🏾 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!! ”SOMETIMES GOD BLESSES OTHERS THROUGH US!!”🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #ONELOVE❤️✊🏾🖤✊🏼💚✊🏻💛 424EVR
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
For starters let me say this above all else, “I LOVE Y’ALL!” Nobody is gonna make me feel any other way. I was just thinking about the fact that I’ll be turning 48 years old next month, and I’m still finding my way to a becoming a better me. It’s been a year and a half since we started coming out, since October 2017 to be exact, and I realize that I’m often asked why we do what we do, or what motivates me to do this project. Well it’s simple, I’ve been in many bad situations, from being in and out of jail, to being homeless, to fighting a destructive addiction to alcohol, many failed relationships, and on and on. However, one day I realized that I wasn’t dead and that I was fighting the very people who wouldn’t abandon me. Through all of the bad legal consequences, most of which I brought on myself, I was still in the game, because I stopped relying on other people to validate my core value. I decided that I would make the opinion that I had of myself become the opinion that others had of me, and not the other way around anymore. That required absolute honesty, meaning that I had to acknowledge that I didn’t have a high opinion of myself, and I needed to accept the fact that I had a lot of shortcomings that needed to be addressed. So instead of feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, I took it one step at a time. The first step, not to be confused with AA, was the most important, I had to break up with my best friend, and partner in crime, ALCOHOL. At my worst point, I was drinking a 5th of vodka or rum a day, in addition to legally prescribed opiates! But first and foremost, I had to give up drinking, so I did, knowing that everything would eventually begin to fall in place. No court ordered AA, no pressure from family and friends, and no amount of embarrassment was enough. No I had to want it for myself more than others wanted it for me. So I went to the bar on March 31, 2017 and ordered a beer and a shot of tequila. I downed them, thanked them for all of the valuable lessons, and sent them out of my life. It’s still a daily commitment, but with everyday I invest in myself, I wake up the next day a better man than I was the night before when I went to sleep. In short, we all have choices, just like we all have problems. That’s life! However, our actions are what forge our paths. Life is unfair on so many levels for so many of us, but unfortunately you must play the hand you’re dealt. To change the game, you gotta stay engaged. Now I’m not here to say “do this or that, or stop doing this or that.” No to the contrary, I’m saying that if “YOU” want better, “YOU” must do better, and there’s nothing better than your personal best! We all know what holds us back, but the strange thing about things that hold us back is that those things aren’t holding on to us, we’re holding on to them! Things like drama, anger, addiction, amongst many others. Simply let go! 🙏🏾 I know it’s not easy, but I’m here to show you it’s possible. So, in closing I want y’all to know that I’m here to help, to try and find solutions, and to lend an ear. We aren’t here to pass judgment or act on them, but rather to do what we can to continue to support and inspire you to become the best version of you!! Like I said in the beginning, “I LOVE Y’ALL! AND NOBODY IS GONNA CHANGE THAT, NOT EVEN YOU!” 😉 “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” -Lao Tzu Words to truly embrace and live by. Til the time comes when you no longer need our services, we are here, and we are here to stay. We aren’t religious, and we believe that as individuals we must find our own paths to enlightenment. I personally believe in God, but in my own way, and my way allows me to love unconditionally. Your way may not be my way, but if your way makes you a better person inside and out, then that’s good, regardless of your belief system! With that said, keep striving and keep pushing through, and y’all have our word that we will continue to fight the good fight with you and for you, but together. It’s all about reciprocity, so there will be give and take. Knowing this please try to have a peaceful evening, and start working on making tomorrow better than today! We all have a choice! We here at the MLK Humanity Project choose to care, so hopefully you can find some peace in that! With that said, Peace, and May God continue to Bless Us All!! ✌🏾🙏🏾❤️🖤💚💛 Respectfully and Sincerely, Ché Walton President, MLK Humanity Project Vallejo, CA Wow!!! We have a new business partnership, and it’s a gonna help us do so much for so many in need!! We are so excited to share the news, and will be announcing who are new partner is this Saturday, prior to our Sack Lunch Program run, so see you Saturday morning!! ❤️🖤💚💛
Don’t ever doubt the power of FAMILY!! Today we went out into the streets of Vallejo to show love and kindness to those who are need of just that. Unlike many of our friends, I can always say that my family was always available for me through the good and the bad. However, at some point they realized that I had to realize that they were always available, and always there. Once I did, I had a moment of clarity, if you will, and I started to understand that the truth hurts. But that kind of hurt is a necessary pain. The kind of pain that moves one to greater purpose, and to pursue positive aspirations geared toward spiritual growth and self improvement. Well, I’m no rocket scientist, but I’m sure I’m not special! I’ve lived my whole life thinking that I could do anything that the next person could, if I tried. And the times I tried and was unsuccessful, I tried something else. Well I’m so happy to share a story of hope and perseverance. This is Scott, and along with his dog Solo we would always do what we could for him. He always worked, mostly odd jobs, but he worked. Through his many personal trials, he too came to immerse himself in his own profound moment of clarity! Here’s where family is the key. You see Scott is doing much better, and making better decisions for himself as well as for salvation of relationships with those who genuinely love him. Apparently, it was seeing the disappointment in his son’s eyes after seeing his situation, that finally prompted Scott to start making the hard choices. Choices that would be necessary ones to make, despite the difficulties. It was amazing to see the difference in his appearance and his demeanor when he surprised us while we were out serving. He was unrecognizable at first, because he had a fresh haircut, new clothes, and most importantly an air of self confidence and pride, that hequite honestly never exhibited before. The most striking thing about the “ new and improved” or at least improving Scott, was his humility. His embracement of necessary change was present in his words and his posture. We are so happy for him and his family, especially his son with whom he now resides. That's what I’m talking about, when I’m talking about family taking care of family. It requires the willingness to compromise and sacrifice from everyone involved. It doesn’t always pan out, but then everybody doesn’t always give it the all either. Personally, I believe if you have family that truly loves you, and want what’s best you, then you should cherish that, because not everyone has that luxury. For that very reason, we let our friends know that they are our family, and like any good family member, we only want what’s best for them, but we can’t want it more than they want it for themselves. ❤️🖤💚💛 In addition to seeing Scott, we saw so many others doing better, or at least not worse. And not doing worse implies some semblance of stability, and that’s a positive thing. All in all, we passed out 101 sack lunches, and 100 Blessing Bags (toiletry bags) today. We hope that our friends will at least not worry about being too hungry today, and thanks to other people we say serving today, they should be ok. With that said, “please don’t be thankful, stay thankful.” Be thankful for FAMILY, and always tell the ones you love that you love them, before you can’t! Always remember to be kind to others! Peace, and May God continue to bless us All!! ✌🏾🙏🏾 P.S. To date the MLK Humanity Project has served 11,421 sack lunches, homemade meals, hot and cold cereal breakfasts, and family packages throughout the Vallejo area. It is our profound commitment to continue to help those who want to help themselves, and those who unfortunately no longer can! We also want to thank all of our supporters, donors, team members, and volunteers, because we know we can’t do it alone. We always say that, “LIKING US IS LOVELY, BUT SHARING IS CARING! SO PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!!” 🤞🏾😉 ”SOMETIMES GOD BLESSES OTHERS THROUGH US!!”🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #ONELOVE❤️✊🏾🖤✊🏼💚✊🏻💛 424EVR If it were any more beautiful outside, I’d have to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming! What a day for the project with regards to growth and messaging! We were joined by our new friend and ally Moira Farrell and her organization, OUTPAW OUTREACH, also located in Vallejo,CA! Along with my wife, and our Volunteer Coordinator, Becky La Grand Curtis, and Moira, we successfully passed out 100+ sack lunches, pet products, baby items, toiletries, and information. It was obvious from the outset, that this collaboration was gonna have some very positive outcomes. Meeting new people and learning their stories was paramount today, as it served to give us not only valuable information, but also better perspective from which to circumnavigate the challenges that face us from week to week.
Without fail, we always hear stories about the day to day hardships that our friends face. Some stories are upbeat and positive leaning, however not all of them, but most of them are sad and wuite alarming. Case in point, a friend told me that she has serious concerns about the way code enforcement is being implemented. Apparently the consensus is one of feeling bullied by the powers that be. We have scheduled a meeting to sit down and hear her concerns. Hopefully , we can then take what we learn and try to see who is willing to sit at the table to discuss solutions! Until we are fully informed, we will reserve commentary beyond what I’ve already eluded to. We will certainly update you as to what we are able to learn, and what plans we have for trying to make things better, or at least more dignified. ❤️🖤💚💛 It wasn’t all about business though. Today was about trying to touch someone that I’ve grown to respect, not because I really know him, but because we share a common bond. You see, last week I wore my PVMAU (Prairie View A&M University) T-shirt for many reasons, however in addition to the many messages the shirt was standing for, I also had an extra T-shirt for our friend Andre. Unfortunately, we didn’t see him last week, but that wasn’t the case today. And when I say he was smiling from ear to ear when we gave him the shirt, it would be an understatement to say the least. If you’re wondering what’s the connection, it’s simple. The first time Andre and I spoke, PVAMU came up. It turns out that his daughter is currently a student there, and is on course to graduate in a year. Right on! Being able to give him the T-shirt was one of my favorite moments, because it was about him and his love for his daughter, and also about the fact that our shared love for a particular university and it’s role in our lives gave us the opportunity to bond. I hope he enjoys the shirt, but more so the memories it evokes!! Finally, we are planning to move the MLK FAMILY & FRIENDS PROGRAM to phase 2. We have been gathering information from our friends pertinent to their individual situations and concerns, in an effort to find the best possible information and resources to assist them in their efforts to improve upon their respective situations. In congruence with our development of a volunteer program, we will be simplifying the process by which to distribute what items to whom, as well as being able to take personal requests for items into serious consideration. As usual we will keep you informed. There will be lots of exciting announcements in the weeks to come, so please keep an eye out for them! With that said, we hope y’all have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day, and in general just a fantastic weekend! Please tell the ones you love that you love them before you can’t!! Always remember to be kind to others!! Peace and May God continue to Bless Us All!! ✌🏾🙏🏾 P.S. To date, the MLK Humanity Project has served 11,320 sack lunches, homemade meals, hot and cold cereal breakfasts, and family packages throughout the Vallejo area. It is our profound commitment to continue to help those who want to help themselves, and those who unfortunately no longer can!! We also want to to thank all of our donors, volunteers, team members, and supporters. We are a community organization, and we rely on the community to thrive! We always say that “Liking us is lovely, but sharing is caring! So please help us spread the word!!”🤞🏾 P.S.S. Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!! “SOMETIMES GOD BLESSES OTHERS THROUGH US!!”🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #ONELOVE❤️✊🏾🖤✊🏼💚✊🏻💛 424EVR It’s Sunday morning, and there’s so much to share about yesterday’s Sack Lunch Program. I hope you will take a few minutes to read about our day of service in Vallejo. So here goes. Since we usually start at the library, we made it our last stop yesterday because, we knew that a church would be out serving a wonderful hot breakfast during our new normal time, so we waited. Starting out, yesterday was a particularly wet and cold one, and that meant less visible activity, but it also allowed us to be more generous in most situations. Like in one case where we met a homeless senior who lives in his vehicle. As always, we approached him respectfully and offered our services. Since we had already met him before, he was very receptive, so he accepted. In every case, I always ask if there’s someone else with them, so we can make sure everyone is accounted for. Well based on their response we give the proper amount. So if we were initially giving someone two lunches for themselves, we simply double it if we see that there is another person, so on and so forth. Well in this case, this gentleman was alone, and obviously hungry. I asked if he had refrigeration in his RV, but he didn’t. So we gave him extra PB&J lunches, along with a couple of turkey sandwich lunches, because the PB&J’s will keep longer. That’s how we try to work with the circumstances of our friends on an individual basis. The main thing that stood out, was his age and the fact that he was essentially alone. So we shook hands, and I gave him our card with instructions to call anytime if he were in need, and we would do what we could, if and when we could. But not only was he appreciative, he was also concerned for others, and he directed us to two others that needed help as well! Right on, paying it forward the best way he could, but still paying it forward! 🤗
Further along and during our route, we were heading to the library, again our last stop, per say, as we noticed a family by a van. We stopped to offer our services, and we surprised by what we learned from the woman we met. She recognized us and asked why we weren’t at the fairgrounds where the free dental work was taking place? (For the last 2 weekends we have been distributing information about the free dental services offered by CDA CARES) We said we just hoped people were taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity, but we weren’t going to change our route, because we knew everyone couldn’t make it to the event. Well, all of that aside, she made it to the event on Friday, and received a beautiful set of new dentures, and her family member was waiting for her call back, which actually occurred as we were talking. We have always emphasized the importance of maintaining dental hygiene for so many reasons, so it was such wonderful news to know that people we benefiting from the free dental event. Thank you CDA CARES, you really make people’s lives better!! See y’all next year!! 👍🏾 After speaking, and meeting her awesome grandson, we also signed her family up for the MLK FAMILY & FRIENDS PROGRAM to start receiving bi-weekly family packages!! 😉 Finally, and most importantly, we are often contacted by our friends for help via texts, because we are very accessible by phone. Well yesterday we received a request for lunches, and since the location wasn’t too far from our route, we went after we left the library. Now I won’t disclose the location, but I will say that what I saw was a bit disturbing. The lines are getting somewhat blurred, because people out being forced to retreat and reside in or very near residential areas, and that’s not good for anyone. There need to be safe zones for people to be able to set up temporary safe harbor, instead of constantly being run off from place to place. I’m not saying we have all the answers, but we do have some very good ideas, and we’re are certainly willing to share what we know to help everyone from the homeless to the concerned homeowners, to peacefully coexist with the presence of established and respected boundaries. All of this can happen, while we and many other groups are still attempting to help those who want to help themselves. We definitely have some choices to make, because we will not be perpetuating any squatting type activity. However, we and those we serve must master the Art of Reciprocity! It’s about “give and take”, not “take and keep taking”. 🤔 We can do it, because we must. In closing, it was another beautiful day of service. I often wonder why it is we as human beings treat one and other the way we do. However, I also realize that the best way for me to make a difference, is by embracing my humanity and recognizing it in others. Changing the world starts with first changing yourself. “If we want things to get better, then we as individuals must choose to start doing better things!” So with that said, we hope your weekend has and still is a wonderful one. We encourage you to tell the ones you love that you love them before you can’t!! Always remember to be kind to others!! Peace, and May God continue to Bless Us All!! ✌🏾🙏🏾 P.S. To date the MLK Humanity Project has served 11,200 sack lunches, homemade meals, hot and cold cereal breakfasts, and family packages throughout the Vallejo area. It is our profound commitment to continue to help those who want to help themselves, and those who unfortunately no longer can!! P.S.S. We want to thank all of our donors, past and present, our project supporters, our volunteers, and especially our core team members. Thank you to Project Blessing Bags & Pits R Us, for your continued support, as well as all of the anonymous donors who share on the quiet tip! 🤫👌🏾We know that it takes the community to make a community organization work. With that being said, we encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!! However, we always say that “liking us is lovely, but sharing is caring, so please help us spread the word!! 🤞🏾 https://www.facebook.com/144466902960746/posts/438187066922060?sfns=mo ”SOMETIMES GOD BLESSES OTHERS THROUGH US!!”🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #ONELOVE❤️✊🏾🖤✊🏼💚✊🏻💛 424EVR “Herein lies the tragedy of the age: not that men are poor, — all men know something of poverty; not that men are wicked, — who is good? not that men are ignorant, — what is Truth? Nay, but that men know so little of men.”
- W.E.B. DuBois Yesterday was a particularly quiet day in many respects, but that was primarily due to the fact that Friday was the first of the month, and many of our friends received what little assistance they do get, in the form of SSI checks or food stamps, etc. Many choose to get a room for a day or two, to not only get out of the elements for a bit, but to also shower and enjoy a nice warm bed. As wonderful as that is for many, it’s not true for them all. It really allows us to loosely gage the severity of some situations versus others, and merely on face value and admitted speculation, in some cases. Well yesterday was one for the books. Filled with both highs and lows. For instance, at our first stop we saw people using their new umbrellas, that we’ve been handing out for the last 3 Saturdays, to help keep our friends dry and shielded from the rain. And it was a heartwarming sight to see, to say the least! However, we also heard a lot of stories about how umbrellas were stolen, or lost, and even given away. Now this is where we found ourselves in a very precarious situation. We know it’s not our place to figure out if there is truth to every story of theft, but it was apparent that every story was certainly not true. When we handed out the umbrellas, we were very clear in letting our friends know that the umbrellas were theirs to do with what they pleased, so we knew that some would be sold or bartered, for money or whatever. Knowing that made us fully prepared to say, “No” (in most cases😉) when people said that they needed a new one for whatever reason. In one case, a gentleman told me that he needed another umbrella, because he gave his away to a friend. My response to his request was as follows, “That’s awesome brother, that you would do that for your friend, but as great as that was, it was a sacrifice you chose to make. You knew that you wouldn’t have an umbrella for yourself to deal with the rain, but you unselfishly gave it your friend, so I have to respectfully say “no”, because there are many people still in need of an umbrella, that we have yet to meet or who are program participants that have yet to receive theirs.” He flashed a wry grin, but he shook my hand and said “Thank you” anyway. Without being contentious, we both understood the what’s and the why’s, and that was that. A second man said that a man we know has been in rehab for the past 2 weeks, was watching his umbrella for him last Saturday, while he went to the store, and when he returned, the man and the umbrella were gone. But again, we were careful with our words, but ultimately it was the same result as the other gentleman. The first rule of positive change is accountability, and that’s a personal choice. As I like to say, “Grown folks are gonna be grown!” Anyway, we were able to help many people and share our message of hope, love, and mostly perseverance! I’d like to believe it resonating more and more each week!! In closing, we have started collecting pertinent data, which we hope will help us to better serve and be better prepared for our weekly runs. So with that said, always to tell the ones you love that you love them before you can’t! Always remember to be kind to others! Be thankful for what you have, and not bitter for what you don’t. Peace, and May God continue to Bless Us All!! ✌🏾🙏🏾 P.S. To date the MLK Humanity Project has served 11,100 sack lunches, homemade meals, hot and cold cereal breakfasts, and family packages throughout the Vallejo area. It is our profound commitment to continue to help those who want to help themselves, and those who unfortunately no longer can!! We also want to thank all of our donors, volunteers, and supporters. We can’t do this alone. As we always say, “LIKING US IS LOVELY, BUT SHARING IS CARING! SO HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!!”🤗🤞🏾 We invite you to follow is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! ”SOMETIMES GOD BLESSES OTHERS THROUGH US!!”🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #ONELOVE❤️✊🏾🖤✊🏼💚✊🏻💛 424EVR |
AuthorThe MLK Humanity Project is an inclusive community organization devoted to the well being and empowerment of our homeless and less fortunate residents. Archives
December 2022
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